Locking device for loose leaf binders and the like



Nbv. 21 1939. l w. J. WEATHERLY 1 LOCKING DEVICE FOR LOOSE LEAF BINDEBS AND THE LIKE Filed June 25, 1937 ATTORNEYJ.

Patented Nov. 21, 1939 UNITED'STATES LOCKING DEVICE FOR LOOSE LEAF BINDERS AND THE LIKE William J. Weather-1y, Tampa, Fla.

Application June 23, 1937, Serial No. 149,857

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a locking device for loose leaf binders and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a locking device which is simple and economical 5 to construct, easy to operate and which provides a positive lock against undesired expansion of the binder but which permits ready compression of the binder and its contents.

The lock is particularly applicable to catalog binders used by salesmen for wholesale and jobbing houses dealing in a large range of merchandise. Such salesmen must ordinarily carry extremely bulky catalogs made up in loose leaf form.

15 Other objects and features of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claim:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete loose leaf catalog binder with the contents removed 20 and showing the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lock per se with parts shown in section. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

25 In the form of the invention shown in the drawing by way of illustration, there is provided a catalog binder including a pair of metallic backing members In and II substantially L-shaped in cross section. Each of said members 30 has hinged thereto a metallic strip |2 to which there is secured a sheet l3 of leather or other suitable flexible material. Handles l4 are at tached to the sheets l3 for carrying the binder and contents. The member I is provided with 35 an upwardly and inwardly turned flange I5 along each edge which flanges embrace the edges of the member l0 and rovide a guideway for sliding or telescoping the backing members with respect to each other. A pair of binder rods I6 40 is secured by any suitable means to the upstanding portion of the member l0 and similar rods I! are secured to the upstanding portion of the member I|. These rods are spaced to engage mating holes provided in the catalog sheets to 45 be carried in the binder.

Mounted adjacent the inner edge of the member l0 there is provided a keeper 8 preferably formed of sheet metal and open at both ends. Said keeper is located below the level of the 50 rods l6 and I! so as not to interfere with the edges of the catalog sheets. A rod I9 is secured to the upturned portion of the member II and passes through suitable openings in the side walls 20 of said keeper.

55 channel-shaped in cross section, extends within A lever 2|, preferably the keeper l8 and outwardly to a position adjacent the edges of the members 0 and I I. Within the keeper I8, said lever is provided with a suitable opening through which the rod l9 may pass and is provided with an enlarged inner portion 5 22 engaging one of the side walls 20. A leaf spring 23 secured to the back of the lever 2| engages the opposite side wall 20 on the opposite side of the rod l9. This spring normally urges the lever in a counterclockwise direction about the point of contact of the part 22 and wall 20. The lever is, therefore, in efiect, pivotally mounted upon the backing member Ill at this point. The opening in the lever 2| through which the rod l9 passes is made to fit said rod relatively closely so that when the lever 2| is angularly disposed to the rod IS the edges of said opening grip the rod and prevent sliding movement of the rod through the opening.

In the use of the apparatus, when'loose leaf sheets have been placed on the rods l6 and I1, the two halves of the binder may be pressed together to compress the contents and to hold the same firmly in place. In this compression, the frictional engagement of the rod I9 with the 25 lever 2|, tends to pivot thelever in the direction of the arrow 24 in Fig. 3, thus compressing spring 23 and placing the lever 2| substantially at a right angle to the rod l9. In this position, the rod l9 may freely slip through the lever 2| and the binder may be compressed as much as desired. Any tendency for the rod l9 to be moved in the opposite direction through the lever 2| is resisted by the action of the spring 23 which tends to move the lever 2| in the direction of 5 the arrow 25. In any such movement, the frictional engagement of the lever 2| and rod l9 tends to cause said lever to assume an even more angular position and thus strongly resist any undesired expansion of the binder and its contents.

When it is desired to expand the binder, the lever 2| is manually pressed in the direction of the arrow 24 and is held at a right angle to the rod H! which may then be freely withdrawn.

The foregoing specification describes a preferred form of the invention, the details of which may be varied within wide limits without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claim.

The invention claimed is:

In a loose leaf binder or the like having a pair of relatively movable backing members, a rod secured to one of said members, and a keeper having opposed sidewalls secured to the other of said members-the combination of a lever having 10 rod, said lever and spring being freely insertable and removable between the walls of said keeper as a unit when said rod has been withdrawn, and said spring tending to force said lever into an angular position in which the edges of said opening clamp said rod to nrevent relative movement thereof, whereby said lever must be manually moved to a different position to permit such relative movement.

WILLIAM J. WEATHERLY. 

